By Alpha Amadu Jalloh.
Mr. President, here I am again for our usual chit-chat. It seems that with every passing day, the issues that plague our beloved Sierra Leone multiply, threatening the very foundations of our nation’s pride, heritage, and promise. Today, I come to you not merely as a concerned citizen but as someone who still believes in the potential of our country, a nation endowed with God-given blessings and a rich tapestry of traditions, culture, and moral values. Yet, under your watch, we are being reduced to the state of ordinary beggars in our own homeland.
Mr. President, let me begin with a pressing question that seems to echo in every corner of our land: Did you, in your infinite wisdom, appoint your Inspector General of Police with the interests of Sierra Leone at heart? This is not just a procedural query; it is a matter of national security and credibility. For a country as proud and historically significant as ours, the stewardship of our law enforcement agencies cannot be entrusted to individuals whose actions might later cast a dark shadow on our collective reputation.
When those we trust to enforce our laws instead serve as instruments for political expediency or, worse yet, personal aggrandizement, the very fabric of our democracy unravels. You have, on numerous occasions, heard voices within our society decrying the mismanagement and questionable loyalties within our security apparatus. It is time to address these concerns openly and with candor. The fate of our state, and indeed the dignity of every Sierra Leonean, rests on the integrity of those tasked with upholding the law.
Turning to another matter of deep concern: the so-called Abortion Bill, which has been cunningly rebranded as the “Safe Motherhood Bill.” Mr. President, every time I point out the degradation of our national standards, I am met with a barrage of policies that strip away the very essence of our identity. How is it that a nation, once celebrated for its pride and wealth, its moral and cultural fortitude, is now being maneuvered into accepting legislation that is, in essence, antithetical to our traditional, religious, cultural, and moral values?
This bill, Mr. President, is not a benign piece of legislation intended solely to improve maternal health. Instead, it has become a political football, kicked around in corridors of power for reasons that go far beyond the realm of public health. Behind the façade of “safe motherhood” lies a sinister agenda: a desperate bid to secure access to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funds. For a long time, I have warned that Sierra Leone does not meet the thresholds or benchmarks required to qualify for these funds. Yet, here we are, with a government seemingly willing to compromise our national ethos for pittance and foreign approval.
Since you came to power, the pattern has been unmistakable. While you and your inner circle, your family included, have celebrated your political victories, the Americans have been masterfully manipulating the stick-and-carrot approach. Now, reports have emerged of a letter from the United States Senate calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review Sierra Leone’s qualification for the MCC funds. Both you and I know, deep down, that we do not qualify. So, why then is there such an urgent push for this bill in parliament? It is a blatant case of foreign interference masquerading as domestic policy, and it is a travesty that undermines our sovereignty.
I urge you, Mr. President, to examine the evidence yourself. A quick check on the Signal.com website will reveal the facts that have been so deliberately obscured from the public. Transparency must be the cornerstone of governance, yet here we see secrecy and obfuscation in the handling of legislation that affects the very soul of our nation.
Mr. President, let us now move to another scandal that has cast a long shadow over your government: the questionable conduct of our Inspector General of Police, Mr. William Faya Sellu. When the Dutch government raised an alarm about their citizen residing in Sierra Leone, a citizen who, astonishingly, is under the protection of the highest authorities, your response was less than commendable. Instead of addressing the issue with the gravity it deserves, your minions launched a campaign of insults and character assassination against those who dared to speak the truth. They went as far as to label dissenters as unpatriotic, thereby stifling any legitimate concern regarding the integrity of our security agencies.
Mr. President, it is not lost on the people that when our security forces are compromised, the repercussions are felt far and wide. In this case, the failure to address the misconduct of those charged with protecting our citizens not only endangers lives but also erodes the trust that the people have placed in our government. In a nation where the rule of law should be sacrosanct, the misuse of power, especially by someone as pivotal as the Inspector General of Police, cannot be tolerated.
Mr. President, the situation grows ever more alarming with the case of Jos Leijdekkers, a man who now lurks in the shadows of our society under a new identity provided by our immigration department. Also known as Umar Sheriff, his presence in Sierra Leone is a glaring testament to the systemic failures that have long plagued our administrative institutions. How is it that an individual with such a dubious background can roam freely, evading the very justice our citizens have the right to expect?
Even more distressing are the claims by our police that they have been unable to locate and arrest him. This, Mr. President, is not just an administrative lapse; it is an act of shame and a direct affront to the principles of accountability and justice. Do not even think of using this inability as an excuse if he manages to slip through our fingers once again. The notion that it is better for him to be dead than allowed to continue evading the law is a sentiment shared by many who understand that justice delayed is justice denied.
I have, in the past, advised on potential solutions to extricate ourselves from the quagmire that is the Jos Leijdekkers saga. One such solution involves a candid acknowledgment of our immigration shortcomings, a system that, for far too long, has been compromised by the practice of selling citizenship to investors. While this strategy may have been employed in a bid to salvage our image in the international community, it has also created dangerous loopholes that permit individuals with questionable backgrounds to infiltrate our society. The time has come to rigorously reform our immigration policies and hold accountable every individual who benefits from, or is complicit in, these lapses, including your own daughter and any member of your government implicated in these practices.
Mr. President, the underlying message I wish to convey is one of unity and reform. I am not addressing you out of personal animus or political rivalry. Instead, I am reaching out as a fellow Sierra Leonean who is deeply invested in the future of our nation. The issues we face, from the manipulation of legislation for foreign gain to the undermining of our security and immigration systems, are interconnected threads in a tapestry of systemic corruption and mismanagement that threatens to unravel our national fabric.
It is said that when a leader falls, the entire nation falls with him. Mr. President, I caution you. I may be willing to fall for the sake of principle, but if you fall, we all fall. The burden of leadership is heavy, and it is incumbent upon you to rise to the occasion, not just for your own legacy, but for the countless lives that depend on your stewardship.
Our beloved Sierra Leone has a storied history of resilience, courage, and innovation. We have overcome adversity in the past, and we possess the strength to do so again. However, this can only happen if those in power are willing to acknowledge their missteps, correct systemic failures, and prioritize the well-being of the nation over personal or political expediency.
Mr. President, the path forward is not without challenges, and the solutions are neither simple nor immediate. Yet, there are concrete steps that can be taken to restore the integrity of our institutions and reclaim the dignity of our people:
Openly address the issues surrounding the abortion bill and the misuse of MCC funds. Allow independent audits and public forums to discuss how policies are formulated and implemented. The people deserve to know that decisions affecting their lives are made in the light of day, not in the murky corridors of hidden agendas.
Conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the conduct of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. William Faya Sellu, and any other officials implicated in misconduct. Accountability is not a luxury; it is a necessity for restoring public trust. Our security forces must be a bulwark of justice, not a shield for the corrupt.
Establish stringent verification processes for citizenship applications. End the practice of selling citizenship in a manner that compromises national security. Those who have exploited these loopholes, including individuals with dubious pasts such as Jos Leijdekkers (Umar Sheriff), must be held accountable. Reform in this area is critical if we are to prevent further erosion of our national integrity.
While international partnerships and funds like those from the MCC can be beneficial, they should not come at the cost of our national sovereignty. Engage with international bodies on a level playing field, ensuring that any cooperation is mutually beneficial and does not require us to compromise on our values or standards.
Ultimately, the greatest asset of Sierra Leone is its people. Restore their faith in leadership by demonstrating a genuine commitment to reform and accountability. Listen to the voices of dissent and criticism, not as threats, but as opportunities to grow and improve.
Mr. President, I address you today not merely as a critic but as a patriot, a guardian of the values that have defined Sierra Leone for generations. The challenges we face are significant, and the stakes could not be higher. Our national pride, our cultural heritage, and the future of our citizens hang in the balance. It is imperative that you take immediate and decisive action to address these issues before they spiral into irreversible crises.
I call upon you, Mr. President, to reflect on your responsibilities as the leader of this great nation. Let this moment be a turning point, a time when you choose to confront the uncomfortable truths, rectify the systemic injustices, and steer Sierra Leone back onto a path of honor, integrity, and progress. The eyes of the nation, and indeed the world, are upon you.
Remember, Mr. President: while I may be willing to fall for the sake of principle, if you fall, we all fall. Let us not allow our nation to be defined by scandal, mismanagement, or the erosion of our values. Instead, let us reclaim our destiny with courage and conviction, ensuring that Sierra Leone remains a beacon of hope and dignity for generations to come.
The time for talk is over; the time for action is now.
